Vehicle brake and throttle operating mechanism



May 20, 1952 v M. VAN HlL'SON VEHICLE BRAKE AND THROTTLE OPERATING MECHANISM Filed 9ct. s, 195o 4 Sheets-Sheet l Avrai/vins* May 20, 1952 M. VAN HlLsoN VEHICLE BRAKE AND THROTTLE OPERATING MECHANISM 4 sheets-sheet 2 Filed oct. e, 195o Q 7 6 w, .a ,n 7 8 l N 0 s @y m m i Mm WM u@ ATTORNEY May 20, 1952 M. VAN HILSQN 2,596,998

VEHICLE BRAKE AND THROTTLE OPERATING MECHANSM Filed Oct. 6, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR /VAW/o/v H/So/v ATTORNEY May 20, 1952 M. VAN HlLsoN 2,596,998

VEHICLE BRAKE AND TEROTTLE OPERATING MEcHANIsM Filed oet. e, 195o 4 sheets-sheet 4y INVENTOR4k BY MMM mm v 4d/yadda?,

ATTORNEY Patented May 20,` 1952 VEHICLE BRAKE AND THROTTLE OPERATI-lNG MECHANISM Mari@ van mism, Leemans, o hip` Application October 6, 1950, Serial No, 188,834.`

Claims.

rIhis -invention-A relates vto manually operated vehiclelcontrol means and morerparticularly to a-.combined-manually operated mechanism for operating the brakes andthrottle of an automotive. vehicle.

Itis,y among the-objects ofthe invention to provide combined control mechanism for the brakes.l and Y throttle of an automotive vehicle whichv enables thevehicle operator to control both ythej throttle and `the brakes by a single pedal and -withoutremoving his foot from such pedal, which selectivelyl connects the. pedal with the brakes. or; thethrottle underY operator control and providesvv asmooth andeffective control for both thethrottleand the brakes of the, vehicle, which is simple and durable in construction and can beinstalled onvanexistingvehicle with no materialmodication of the vehicle construction, and .which is positive and effective in operation and easy lto use.`

Other: objects andadvantages will Ybecome apparent from a consideration ofthe. following' description and theappended claims in conjunction with the; accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure, 1 is. a somewhat diagrammatic side elevationalview of= brake and throttle control means illustrativeof the invention;

FgllreZ isa top plan View of a portion of the control. meansillustrated .in Figure l; A

Figure A3 is a side. elevational view of the portion of the,- control means illustrated in Figure 2; t

Figure. 4. is a side .elevationalview of the oppoksiteV side of the. control means from that illustratedf in Figure. 3;

Figure?) isa'view similar to Figure 3 but showing thepartsin a different operative position from thatillustrated in Figure 3;

Figure 6 isa side elevationalview on an enlarged scale. of a fragmentaryA portion of the mechanism illustratedin Figure 4;

Figure 7 is aperspective View` of an operative component of the mechanism;

Figure 8 is ya transverse cross sectional view cn the line ,878. of Figurev 4;

EigureS is atop plan view of another portion cf the mechanism illustrated in Figure l; and

Figure 10. isla side elevational view of the portion of themechanismillustratedinV Figure 1 withthe partsin a different operative position from that illustrated in -Figure 41.

Withcontinued referencelto thedrawings, in Figure 1 the brake andthrottlecontrol mechanismis .Shown operatively mounted man aut@- motive. vehilehavns a footboard .Structure la 2 a frame. member II, an engine throttle link and a vbrake 4member cylinder I3.

The footboardstructure I0.. is. provided with anelongated opening I4 anda fixed bracket I5 is 4securedto the under sideof thefootboard structure vat ythe lower end of the openingv I4. A hinge. butt I6 -is secured to the bracket I5 and projects through the. opening I4anddan elongated foot pedal I'I is pivotallysecuredat one end to the hinge buttA Iii-by a hinge; pin Iy which ex,- tends through the. eye of the. hinge butt` and througha pair of apertured .lugs ony the foot pedal which lugs, are disposed one at eachlopposite side ofthe hingebutt. A` heel'rest I9 is carried on the foot pedal II -at thehingedend of the latter and a toe pad I 9. is provided on .the other end` of the footrest.

An elongated-barn of vgenerally rectangular cross sectional shape and havingV a bore of .reeftangular cross sectional shape. extendingtherethrough is pivotallyeonnected at one end to the foot pedal II near the` free endof theI latter by a pivot pin 2I which extends through-an aperture in the bar 23.. and through a registering aperture in an ear 22 secured, tothe underside of the pedal I'I.

A bell crank lever. 23-ispivotally mountedV at its angle on the frame member IIvandl has one end connected through'a connecting yrode-2li with the piston rod 25 ofy the brake master cylinder I3. A tension spring 26 is connected between this end ofv the. bellcrank 23.andla\ spring clip 211 secured to the frame member7` II forresiliently movingthe bell crankin a direction toretract the pistonrod ofthe brake master Vcylinder after the latter has been advancedftoapply thebrakes A second barn-28, also of generallyv rectangular cross sectional shapeis telescopically and slidably received inthey bore ofthe iirstbar-ZILand this second bar 2.8nis pivotally connected at; one endto the other-end ofA thebellucrank`r 23 by; -a pivot pin or bolt 2-9.`

An arm' 30. is pivotally connectedat oneend to the vbar 2Q and projectslaterally from this bar and an elongated lever 3l isv secured intermediate its length to the arm 30 and-extends:v along the bars 2B and 28.

Thebarsz and 28 are provided with'registrablev apertures` in the overlapping. portions thereof and a latch tongue 3,2` carried bythe lever 3| adjacentmthe arm .SilV is insertablelinto these apertures. to lock theV bars. 2d and 28 against longitudinaln movement relative toV each other when the rlever is in itsvbrake .operatingpositiom as illustrated in Figure l,

With the bars 2|) and 28 interconnected by the latch tongue 32, when the free end of the foot pedal I1 is depressed the bell crank 23 is rocked about its pivotal mounting on the frame member to force the master cylinder piston rod 25 inwardly of the master cylinder and apply the vehicle brakes.

A second bell crank 33 is pivotally mounted at. its angle on the frame member and a tension spring 34 is pivotally connected at one end to one end of this second bell crank and at its opposite end to the frame member by a clip or eye 35. f g

A plunger 4| is slidably mounted on the foot pedal |1 at the free end of the latter by a clip 42 which is secured to the under side ofthe foot pedal and through which the plunger extends and a roller 43 carried by the clip bears against the plunger. At its end adjacent the foot pedal the plunger is provided with an angular o'set portion 44 and a foot contacting button 45 is mounted on the end of this offset so that the plunger can be moved longitudinally relative to the bar 2U. A bell crank 46 is pivotally mounted at its angle on the bar 20 and pivotally connected at one end to the adjacent end ofthe plunger 4|. The opposite end of this bell crank is connected through a link 41 with the lever 3|.

The lever 3| is a built up structure comprising a flat outer bar 48 and a flat inner bar 49 spaced from and substantially parallel to the bar 48. The bar 49 is shorter than the bar 48 and carries at one end the latch dog 32 for locking the tubular bars 2|) and 28 together. This bar 49 is secured to the bar 48 by bolts 50 and 5|, suitable spacers surrounding these bolts between the two bars. The bolt 50 is received ina slotv52 in the lever bar 48 and the bolt 5| is received in a corresponding slot 53 in the lever bar 49 so that the bar 48 is longitudinally adjustable relative to the bar 49 and to the arm 30 which is attached to the bar 49. At its end remote from the pedal I1 the outer lever bar 48 has a concavely curved end surface 54 which contacts a grooved roller 55 carried by the bell crank 33 at the end of the latter remote from spring 34. y

When the plunger 4| is depressed by foot pressure on the button 45 the lever 3| is rocked about the pivotal connection 56 between the arm 30 and bar 29 so that the latch dog 32 is withdrawn from the openings in the brake operating bars 20 and 28 and the end of the lever bar 48 is brought into alignment with the rolleru55. If the foot pedal I1 is depressed under these conditions the bar 28 will slide along the bar 28 and the brakes will not be actuated but pressure of the lever bar 48 on the adjacent end of the bell crank 33 will rock this bell crank lever. l

A bracket 60 is mounted on the Vehicle frame member I near the bell crank 23 and an arm 6| is pivotally mounted at one end on this bracket by a hinge structure 62. At its opposite end the arm 6| has an oiset portion 63 and a grooved roller 64 rotatably mounted on the distal end of the offset portion 63 rides on the adjacent surface of the bar 48 of the lever 3|. A tension spring 65 connected between the arm adjacent the hinge 62 and an ear 66 carried by the bracket 60 swings the arm 6| in a direction to maintain the roller 64 under pressure on the adjacent surface of the lever bar 48. The arm 6| carries a stop 61 intermediate its length which stop is positioned to engage the end of the bar 28 connected to the bell crank 23 when the lever 3| is in its throttle operating position. The stop 61 holds the bar 20 against longitudinal movement when the pedal |1 is depressed with the lever 3| in throttle operating position so that the bar 28 will not be moved to apply the brakes under these conditions.

A spring clip 68 is secured to the bar 23 at the end of the latter adjacent the pedal |1 and a complementary clip 69 is secured to the bar 28 near the end of the latter remote from the pedal. Two tension springs 10 and 1| are connected between the clips 68 and 69 and resiliently urge the bar 20 longitudinally of the bar 28 in a direction to raise the pedal |1. A stop 12 secured on the bar`20 engages the spring clip 68 to limit the spring induced, relative movement of the bars 20 and 28 in a pedal lifting direction.

. With this'arrangement, when the pedal I1 and plunger 4| are simultaneously depressed, the bar 28 will be held against movement by the stop 61 and the bar 2U will slide on the bar 28 stretchingthe springs 10 and 1|. The lever 38 will be moved by depression of the plunger 4| to engage the roller 55 and rock the bell crank 33 about its pivotal mounting on frame |I, stretching spring 34. Depression of the plunger 4| also stretches a spring 13 connected between the outer end of the arm 30 and the spring clip 59. Now, when the pressure on the pedal |1 is released, the spring 1U and 1| will move the bar 2|] relative to the bar 28 until the stop 12 contacts the upper spring clip 68 thereby raising the pedal and retracting the lever 3|. When the pressure of the lever 3| on roller 55 is released, spring 34 moves the bell crank 33 in a direction to close the throttle |2. When the pedal has reached its fully raised position and pressure on the plunger 4| is released, the spring 13 swings the arm 30 to move the lever 3| away from its throttle operating position, and to engage the latch dog 32 in the registering apertures in the bars 2|! and 28. If the pedal |1 is now depressed without depressing the plunger knob 45, the bars 20 and 28 will be moved together to turn the bell crank 23 and apply the vehicle brakes. Under these conditions, the lever 3| will move with the bars 20 and 28 but will miss the roller 55 so that the throttle will remain closed. When the brake applying pressure on the pedal l1 is now released, the spring 26 which was stretched duringy the application of the brakes, will rotate the bell crank 23 to return the pedal to its raised position.

An vadjustable stop 15 carried by the bracket BU'engages an offset 16 on the bell crank 23 to limit the pedal raising movement of the bars 23 and 28 under the iniluence of the spring 26.

With the above described arrangement, when it is desired to control the vehicle throttle, the pedal I1 and plunger button 45 are simultaneously depressed and when it is desired to close the throttle and apply the vehicle brakes, the pressure on the pedal I1 is rst released allowing the pedal to rise to its uppermost position and then the pedal alone is depressed without depressing the plunger button 45 whereupon the mechanism will apply the brakes While leaving the throttle closed.

Asis particularly illustrated in Figures l, 9 and 10, a post is secured to the frame adjacent the bracket 60 and extends upwardy from the ..frame substantially perpendicular thereto. A rigid bar 8| is secured at one end to the upper end of the post 80 and projects perpendicularly fromthe post 80 in a direction forwardly of the vehicle upon which the mechanism is mounted.

Abell: crank lever 82 isrpivotally mounted-at its1angle^on2thepost intermediatezthe length offthis post'l-andiasimilar bell crank lever83 is pivotally mounted:l atA its. angle on the post 3| at the upper-end ofi the latter. A link 8`4iconnects-one endof the bell crank lever 82 to one endfof'the bell crank. lever 83 so that the two levers willlrock simultaneously about their piv-4 otal connectionswiththeA post 38. An extension 85i is securedon the other end of the bellcrank leverV 8.2 and'extends intov the` path of the end ofl theA bell crank `leverticarrying the roller '55 softl'iati whenthe bell crank lever 33 is rocked about ltspivotalmounting on the frame llvby depressing both the pedal and the plunger buttonll; asdescribedfabove, the two bell crank levers 82 and:y 83"'i will be coextensively. rocked abouttheir pivotal connections with the post `8|li A diagonal brace 86extends from the. postzll near the bracket ill'tov the bar'l intermediate the lengthvofi thebar and assists in supporting the barfinits perpendicular relationship tothe posti-.89; Other'supporting means for the post andftliefbar'may'be provided as may be found necessaryr or. desirable:

A simple lever 'lispivotally mounted atV one end oni the-bar 8|'` at the bar adjacent end of the brace 86fyand a-second simple lever 88 isv also pivotally mounted onthe bar 8| at this locationand projectsfrom the bar in the same direction as the' lever 8.1'. The levers 81 and 38 are connected together. at their pivotally mounted ends so that they rock simultaneously about their pivotalmounting on'the bar 8|.

A= bracket 89.` projects upwardly from the bar 8|? at the` end of' this: bar remote from thepost 89 and. athird'simple lever 98 is-pivotally connected at one-end'. to thebracket 8S near the upper endofthelatterand depends from this pivotalN connectionpast the bar 8|. A link 9| connects the end of the bell crank lever 83'remote from the linkk 84'to the distal end of the lever. 87,' being adjustably connected to the lever Slby` means of a nuti92 pivotally connected" to the lever. and receiving a screw threaded end portion of' the link 9|; A link 93`pivotally connectsthe distal'end' of lever 88 to lever 9i) in'- termediate the length ofthe latter andalthrottle rodll is p-ivotally connected to the distal'end` of leverf88 and' extends' therefrom to a connection with` the. vehicle throttle valve, not' illustrated.

Af tensionspring"95'2connected between the bell crank lever; 83f.and"a:secondary brace 96: connect.-v edlbetweenthe post 80 and theV diagonal brace. resiliently resists themovement imparted to. thebell cranks 82 and 83 by the bell crank'lever 33and. moves the throttle operating linkage in a throttlev closing directionv when pressure exertedi'on thebellcrankextension 85 by the bell crank lever.33..is"released.

Byimeans of the'zlinkage mechanism just described, the-throttle ope-rating movements of the bell crank lever 33 ar'e'transmitted to the throttlefrodv 94", thelever'l being shorter than the lever"88 andthe connection between the link 93 an'dflever 8|!.being nearer. the pivotal axis'of the levenll'ithanithe: connection between the throttleerodzS and this/lever; so that'the movement reducing connectionibetween the bell 'crankr lever sandithebellcrank'- lever 82 is suitably compensatedx by 'the' throttle operating linkage.

A- leverx96 iis. pivotally, mounted. at one end on the'rpostfllbelow" and adjacent to the pivotal connectonbetweenthe ypost and the bell crank lever 82. The-corez'l'of a Bowden Wire is con- 6. nected-:at pone: endxtc thegdistal; end :.ofthe zlever 961i extends.; through; ay i exible. sheath. 98 to ai'. pullknob.V 99,.the'.-r endet; the sheath remote fromrthelever .86? being; mounted inV the vehicle. instrument boardzbyia:suitablezthimble |08. The otherf'endiofthe sheatn98 isconnected to the diagonalbrace -Bf by a'iclip :It I so that movement ofth'escorez9.1longitudinally vof the sheathr 98' by thefknob 499-fwil1swing the` lever about its pivotal connection .With the:l post 85. A iiat arm |82 connected. at one endto thelever 96 at the pivotally mountednendjofthe latterfunderlies the end oabell crank lever 82 to which the link 84 is connected.

With; the .Y above construction, when the Y knob lilzis. pulled .outwardlyv thef distal end. ofthe lever. 96'; is. raised, raising; the endof theA bell crank leven-82, contacted bythe-.nat arm |02 `and advancing.- the; engine throttle through :the linkage mechanism xincluding.; thelinkd, the bell crank leverril;` the-.link 9|,A the-levers 8'!l and 88, the link 93.; and the lever S8. The lever 96; Bowden wirecore andsheathffl and 98` and hand knob 99thus-constitutes-.a4 manual control for the vehiclethrottlawhich isfindependent of theY foot operated. combined throttle and brake control mechanism.

The invention may beV embodied in other specicformswithout departing from thespirit-or essential. characteristicsthereof.- The present embodiment is, therefore; to be considered in all respects as--illustrative and-notrestrictive, the scopefoffthe invention :being indicated by the appendedclaimsrather than by the foregoing description and all changeswhich come within the meaning and: range ofi equivalency ofthe claims are, therefore,A intended to beembraced therein.

What 4is claimed is:

1. Combined brake and throttle control mechanism for-an'A automotive vehicle comprising a foot pedal, meansp'ivotally connectingsaidpedal at oneend toaxedsupport, a `irstbar pivotally connected. at one.. end to said pedal near the free end of. the. latter, a-pivotallymounted rstbell crank, meansy connecting. one. end` of said rst bellcrank to .vehicle brake mechanism, a second bar. pivotally. connected at one end tothe other endof'said rst bell crank and-slidably associatedwith said first barlatchmeans carried by said first bar-and engaging said second bar for interlocking'said -iirst and -secondbars to operate the vehicle brake means when the free end of said pedal is. depressed, alever pivotally. mounted on said rst.bar1and..connectedto said latch means for.. disconnecting; said` rst and secondrbars, a foot .engageable plunger. carriedonsa-id first bar and connected. tosaid lever'for moving. the latter to vdisconnectsaid .rstand .second bars when said plunger. is depressed,y a, second pivotally mountedbell-crank, means connecting one end of .saidsecond-bell crank .to the vehicle throttle, a tension spring. connected tothe other end of said second -bellcrankg saidone end ofwsaid -secondbell-crank being disposedin the path of the adjacent endfof saidleverwhen-the latter is in its bar releasingposition .for operation of the vehiclethrottle bysaidpedalwhen said plunger is depressed.

2.v Combined-.brake and throttle. control mecha anism. for. any automotive vehicle comprising. a footfpedal, means vipivotally connecting said pedal at one end to a vfixed support,v a rst bar. p ivotally connected at one end to. said. pedal near the freefend: of theelatter, a pivotally mounted rst bell; crank means connecting. one endv of said first bell crank to vehicle brake mechanism, a second bar pivotally connected at one end to the other end of said rst bell crank and slidably associated with said iirst bar, latch means carried by said first bar and engaging said second bar for interlocking said first and second bars to operate the vehicle brake means when the free end of said pedal is depressed, a lever pivotally mounted on said rst bar and connected to said latch means for disconnecting said rst and second bars, a foot operated plunger carried on said rst bar and connected to said lever for moving the latter to disconnect said rst and second bars when said plunger is depressed, a second pivotally mounted bell crank, means connecting one end of said second bell crank to the vehicle throttle, and a tension spring connected to the other end of said second bell crank, said means connecting said second bell crank to said throttle comprising a vehicle carried post, a bar secured at one end to one end of said post and extending from the latter, bell crank levers pivotally mounted on said post in spaced apart relationship, a link interconnecting the post carried bell cranks for simultaneous movement, an extension on one of said post carried bell crank levers engaged by said second bell crank for rocking said post carried bell crank levers about their pivotal connections with said posts, a throttle rod, link and lever mechanism mounted on said bar and connecting the other of said post carried bell crank levers to said throttle rod, a lever pivotally mounted at one end on said post and engaging one of said post carried bell crank levers, and hand operated means connected to said lever engaging one of said bell crank levers for hand adjustment of the vehicle throttle.

3. Combined vehicle throttle and brake control mechanism comprising a foot operated pedal pivotally supported at one end, a pivotally supported brake operating lever, a pivotally supported throttle operating lever, longitudinally collapsible means connecting the free end of said pedal to said brake operating lever, spring means carried by said longitudinally collapsible means resiliently urging the latter to expanded condition, stop means limiting the spring induced expansion of said collapsible means, a lever pivotally mounted on said collapsible means, latch means carried by said lever and engageable with said longitudinally collapsible means to lock the latter against longitudinal collapse, said lever having two operative positions in one of which it engages said latch means with said collapsible means to preclude collapse of the latter when said pedal is depressed and in the other of which it disengages said latch means from said collapsible means and engages said throttle operating lever, a plunger carried by said pedal and connected to said lever mounted on said longitudinally collapsible means for moving the last mentioned lever from said one to said other operative position when said plunger is depressed, spring means connected between said last mentioned lever and said longitudinally collapsible means for returning said last mentioned lever from said other to said one operative position when said plunger is released, and stop means operated by said last mentioned lever to hold said brake operating lever against brake applying movement when said last mentioned lever is in said other operative position.

4. Combined vehicle throttle and brake control mechanism comprising a foot operated pedal pivotally supported at one end, a pivotally supported brake operating lever, a pivotally supported throttle operating lever, longitudinally collapsible means connecting the free end of said pedal to said brake operating lever, spring means carried by said longitudinally collapsible means resiliently urging the latter to expanded condition, stop means limiting the spring induced expansion of said collapsible means, a lever pivotally mounted on said collapsible means, latch means carried by said lever and engageable with said longitudinally collapsible means to lock the latter against longitudinal collapse, said lever having two operative positions in one of which it engages said latch means with said collapsible means to precludecollapse of the latter when said pedal is depressed and in the other of which it disengages said latch means from said collapsible means and engages said throttle operating lever, a plunger carried by said pedal and connected to said lever mounted on said longitudinally collapsible means for moving the last mentioned lever from said one to said other operative position when said plunger is depressed, spring means connected between said last mentioned lever and said longitudinally collapsible means for returning said last mentioned lever from said other to said one operative position when said plunger is released, stop means operated by said last mentioned lever to hold said brake operating lever against brake applying movement when said last mentioned lever is in said other operative position, spring means connected to saidthrottle operating lever for returning the latter from movement thereof by said last mentioned lever, spring means con nected to said brake operating lever for returning the latter from movement thereof by said longitudinally collapsible means, and adjustable stop means limiting movement of said brake operating lever by the last mentioned spring means.

5. Combined vehicle throttle and brake control mechanism comprising a foot operated pedal pivotally supported at one end, a pivotally supported brake operating lever, a pivotally supported throttle operating lever, longitudinally collapsible means connecting the free end of said pedal to said brake operating lever, spring means carried by said longitudinally collapsible means resiliently urging the latter to expanded condition, stop means limiting the spring induced expansion of said collapsible means, a lever pivctally mounted on said collapsible means, latch means carried by said lever and engageable with said longitudinally collapsible means to lock the latter against longitudinal collapse, said lever having two operative positions in one of which it engages said latch means with said collapsible means to preclude collapse of the latter when said pedal is depressed and in the other of which it disengages said latch means from said collapsible means and engages said throttle operating lever, a plunger carried by said pedal and connected to said lever mounted on said longitudinally collapsible means for moving the last mentioned lever from said one to said other operative position when said plunger is depressed, spring means connected between said last mentioned lever and said longitudinally collapsible means for returning said last mentioned lever from said other to said one operative position when said plunger is released, and stop means operated by said last mentioned lever to hold said brake operating lever against brake applying movement when said last mentioned lever 10 REFERENCES CITED The following references are oi record in the ille of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Dausmann May 18, 1937 Palmer June 15, 1943 Perry Nov. 19, 1946 

